"Whoa, so this is outer space! Jin, this is incredible!!"
"It's... beautiful. Like jewels scattered on velvet."
"I am at a loss for words..."
"Hehe, it's amazing. Being able to see a view like this feels like a dream."
"It's wonderful! A true recreation of the legendary 'Heavenly Ship'!"
"Indeed. I never would have imagined such a world existed."
"Ah, it's marvelous! I wonder how far human wisdom can reach!"
"So this, too, is a 'ship,' yet it sails through space. I wonder where ships will take us next."
"What a spectacular view! I'm glad to be alive to see this."
The date was June 10, Continental Calendar 3458.
Following the successful test flights and two journeys to the moon—one of which carried his Doppel—Jin had invited the Jin Family aboard the Adriana.
With the exception of the pregnant Berche, it was a sightseeing flight carrying Reinhard, Elsa, Mine, Saki, Vivienne, Toa, Stearena, Marcia, and Rodrigo. Every passenger was equipped with the latest model of simplified spacesuit.
These suits were primarily constructed from sheets of ground spider silk (GSS) impregnated with soft magi-resin. Each was designed with a specialized control core to ensure that, even when exposed to a vacuum, the suit would not swell from the pressure difference, allowing for unhindered movement.
The helmets were crafted from Ground Spider resin (GSP) and treated with a light-shielding barrier to block dangerous radiation and electromagnetic waves. For life support, a magic tool within the suit converted exhaled carbon dioxide back into oxygen.
These suits weren't intended for zero-gravity maneuvers; they were strictly for shipboard use—a safety measure akin to a life jacket in case of an emergency.
On this maiden tour, the viewing room remained closed for further testing. However, even the views through the magi-screens on the Central bridge were enough to leave everyone spellbound.
"Jin, you are incredible! Truly, you are the world's greatest Magi Craft Meister!" Reinhard praised, his voice thick with emotion.
"No, it's not all me," Jin demurred. "It's only possible because of the knowledge from my home, the magi-engineering I inherited from the Predecessor, and the resources of Hourai Island. And, of course, the cooperation of all of you..."
"Don't sell yourself short! It’s because it’s you, Jin. I think you should hold your head a little higher!" Marcia said, slapping Jin on the back with enough force to emphasize her point.
"Jin-dono is a goal for us all," added Rodrigo, Marcia's father. "But he is a peak so high we may never reach it in our lifetimes."
"Hehe, Elsa’s husband is the best in the world, after all," Saki teased, though her grin was sincere.
"...Thank you?" Elsa replied, a bit flustered.
"Look, dear, the planet we live on really is blue," Stearena noted.
Toa nodded. "Indeed. It seems Jin-kun's home, Earth, isn't the only blue planet in the heavens."
"Hey, Jin-kun, is that blue part the sky? Or is it the sea?" Stearena asked.
"That's the sea. Ars is a planet of water, too," Jin explained.
Both Toa and Stearena gazed at their mother planet with newfound awe. While they knew of Earth through Jin's stories, seeing the reality of their own world from above brought a profound sense of connection.
"A 'Heavenly Ship' for a new age... We are watching the birth of a new legend," Vivienne whispered, enchanted by the vista.
While each passenger held their own thoughts, it was clear that none of them would ever forget this day.
"I think I finally understand why Jin-nii wanted to go to space," Elsa murmured. She had visited the lunar facility, Uni, recently, but this was her first true space flight, and the emotion of the journey was palpable.
"Looking at this... all the conflicts on the ground seem so foolish," Reinhard sighed, his gaze fixed on the horizon of the world below.
After circling the moon, the Adriana returned to Hourai Island, touching down smoothly at the spaceport.
"Jin, thank you! I'm truly proud to call you my friend!" Reinhard beamed, his excitement showing no signs of fading even after they disembarked.
By then, it was exactly noon. The group gathered in the dining hall for lunch.
"Welcome back, everyone," Berche greeted them. Entering her seventh month of pregnancy, her baby bump had become quite noticeable.
"I helped out with the preparations a little bit today," she added with a smile. She had reached her stable period and, wanting to stay active, had asked to help in the kitchen.
"Lady Berche, you mustn't overdo it," Toa cautioned.
"Thank you, Toa. But please, don't worry. Soleil and Luna did nearly all the work; I just lent a hand where I could."
Lunch was a buffet-style spread. There was freshly baked bread with an array of toppings: bacon, fried eggs, ham, egg salad, Wylie jam, citran marmalade, maple syrup, and butter. For drinks, guests could choose from Persica juice, citran juice, apulul juice, Kuhe, kahyi, or tea.
"Hehe, I love meals like this," Saki said, happily spreading her favorite maple syrup over her bread.
"I feel like I'm going to get fat if I keep eating like this," Stearena joked as she assembled an egg salad sandwich.
"Ah, the aroma of this Kuhe is wonderful," Marcia said, taking a long sip to refresh herself.
As everyone enjoyed their meal, Jin asked for their honest thoughts on the spaceship. The only answer he received from any of them was that it was absolutely "wonderful."
Once the meal had wound down and everyone was relaxing, Jin brought up a new topic for discussion.
"Actually, I’ve received a specific request from the Celuroa Kingdom..."
He began to explain the proposal for improving land transportation.
"Hmm, that sounds fascinating. It could be a real boon to the world," Reinhard said, immediately intrigued.
"In Port Rock, we move goods from the harbor to the inland by wagon," Rodrigo added. "But transporting fresh fish is impossible. Even in a refrigerator, it only lasts a few days. If we freeze it with magic, it’s no longer 'fresh.'"
Rodrigo clearly saw the potential in Jin's ideas. Jin went on to explain the two primary concepts: the truck and the railroad.
"I see. So a railroad involves laying down dedicated tracks for a vehicle to follow," Marcia noted.
"And a truck is essentially a wagon that moves on its own power," Rodrigo concluded.
Even Marcia and Rodrigo, who had the least familiarity with modern concepts, grasped the ideas quickly.
"Each has its merits and drawbacks," Jin said. "I can't say for sure which is better for the kingdom yet, so I wanted to hear your opinions."
Reinhard spoke up first. "Jin, I want to confirm one thing. You don't intend to do everything yourself, do you? And by 'everything,' I mean the actual construction—laying the tracks or paving the roads."
"Of course not."
"Then that’s a relief. Projects of this scale must be handled as national undertakings."
"Wait, Reinhard, what do you mean by that?" Saki asked, looking confused.
"It's simple, Saki. If you revolutionize logistics too rapidly, it will lead to mass unemployment. All the people currently making a living with horse-drawn wagons could lose their livelihoods overnight."
Saki nodded as the weight of his words sank in. "Ah, I see. You're saying that change that happens too quickly can be dangerous."
"Exactly," Reinhard said. "And there is one more point to consider."